QLD · Mount Isa Council

Happy Valley, 4825

Est. population · Jun 2025

733

Growth (1 yr)

-0.8%

Growth (5 yr)

-3.9%

Median age

30

Median income

$2,629/wk

Employment rate

66.5%

University qualified

14.7%

Work from home

1.9%

Languages at home

8.8%non-English

Most common: Afrikaans, Cantonese, Japanese

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

21.3/100
Below average

1503rd in QLD

Verified 85% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Remote
What Happy Valley is known for: Remote

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Happy Valley, QLD suburb snapshot — Suburb Guide

Cite this suburb snapshot

Suburb Guide, “Happy Valley, QLD Suburb Guide”, updated 2 October 2026, https://suburb.guide/qld/happy-valley-qld

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Suburb profile

Happy Valley is a remote locality in Queensland, in Mount Isa Council.

School access is exceptionally strong, placing it among the highest-ranked remote localities, and open-space access is better than in most comparable places. Household incomes are a relative strength, with household incomes 83% above the peer median, and university qualifications are more common than in comparable places, and green cover is stronger than in comparable places. Population growth is a relative weakness.

Happy Valley is a better fit for people who value school access and open space more than population growth.

Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.

Strengths and weaknesses

Remote locality · compared with remote localities in Queensland (544)

Strengths

  • School access is exceptionally strong
  • Household incomes are a relative strength
  • Open-space access is better than in most comparable places
  • University qualifications are more common than in comparable places
  • Green cover is stronger than in comparable places

Weaknesses

  • Population growth is a relative weakness

What stands out

Nothing distinctive beyond the usual profile.

Who it suits

  • Families
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • StudentsInsufficient data
  • Budget buyersInsufficient data

Housing, growth and risk

How Happy Valley compares

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

—

No data available

Median rent (Census)

$420/wk

2021 Census median weekly rent

Population (ERP)

733

-0.8% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

15.5%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#235

among Country & regional · Established

Crime rate

98th

percentile in state (higher = more crime)

Pop. growth

0th

percentile in QLD

Rented dwellings

43%

2021 Census tenure

Advantage (IRSAD)

5/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

13th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
21.3/100 — Below average
National rank
6856th in Australia
State rank
1503rd in QLD
Peer rank
#235 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#969 among Country & regional suburbs
Data confidence
85%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Population

Estimated resident population

733(June 2025)

-0.8% annual · -3.9% over 5 years · 0th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
-0.8%
5-year growth
-3.9%
Change in 1 year
-6
Change in 5 years
-30
Growth rank in QLD
0th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~700), extrapolated at -1.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
733
Median age
30
Median household income / week
$2,629
Dwelling vacancy
15.5%
Unoccupied private dwellings
42 of 271
Median monthly mortgage
$1,667
Median weekly rent (2021 Census)
$420
Tenure (owned / mortgaged / rented)
17.4% / 39.6% / 43%
Employment rate
66.5%
Travel to work (WFH / public transport / car)
1.9% / 0% / 78.9%
Walked or cycled to work
3.9%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
226 / 0 / 0

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%) · Accessibility (12%) · Future Growth (6%)

Employment, household income and owned-outright tenure (2021 Census) Work-from-home and public-transport commute shares (2021 Census) Five-year population change as a healthy-growth band, not a boom bonus

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Qualifications

14.7% of adults have a university degree, compared with 21.9% across Queensland. 26% have a trade or vocational qualification.

  • University qualified14.7% · 21.9% QLD
  • Diploma qualified6.6% · 9.4% QLD
  • Trade / vocational26% · 18.9% QLD
  • Year 12 or below52.7% · 49.8% QLD

Highest qualification field

Main field of the highest non-school qualification (2021 Census).

  • Engineering and related technologies32.5%
  • Management and commerce15.7%
  • Health13.4%
  • Society and culture11.9%
  • Education10.1%
  • Food, hospitality and personal services7.5%
How these groups are defined
MeasureDefinition
University qualifiedBachelor degree or higher
Diploma qualifiedAdvanced Diploma / Diploma
Trade / vocationalCertificate III + IV
Year 12Year 12 as highest attainment
Below Year 12Year 11 / 10 / 9 or below

People aged 15 years and over, 2021 Census. University, diploma and trade shares match ABS highest educational attainment (HEAP). Year 12 and below Year 12 are combined in the chart because the General Community Profile reports school-only attainment as a residual.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

University qualifications from the 2021 Census

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Tax & income

Median taxable income (2023–24)
$77,876

98th percentile in QLD · +33% vs Australia

Median salary / wages (2023–24)
$82,318

98th percentile in QLD · +27% vs Australia

Residents with rental investments
13.0%

74th percentile in QLD · -6% vs Australia

Median super balance (2023–24)
$53,721

24th percentile in QLD · -15% vs Australia

Residents with business income
5.0%

3rd percentile in QLD · -52% vs Australia

Australian Taxation Office Taxation Statistics 2023–24, individuals Table 25. Figures describe taxpayers who live in postcode 4825 — not a suburb-level official statistic. Rental investment is the share of local taxpayers reporting rental income or loss, not the share of local properties owned by investors.

Counts, net rent & state comparison
Taxpayers in this postcode
11,145
Taxpayers reporting net rent
1,439
Median net rent
-$2,287
Taxpayers reporting business income
524
Taxable income vs state median
+41%
Salary / wages vs state median
+35%
Rental investment vs state median
+18%
Super vs state median
-22%
Business income vs state median
-50%

Percentiles rank this postcode among unique postcodes in QLD, so suburbs that share a postcode are not counted twice. Dollar figures are compared with Australia-wide ATO medians from the same release. Median net rent is among taxpayers who reported the rent label and can be negative.

Data sources & freshness

  • Taxation Statistics 2023–24 — individuals by postcode (Table 25) — Australian Taxation Office · Updated · Annual release; taxpayer residential postcode, not suburb boundary

Community & culture

8.8% speak a language other than English at home; 18.3% born overseas

Language at home
609 English only · 59 other
Non-English at home
8.8%
Born overseas
122 (18.3%)
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
122 (16.6%)
Australian citizens
598
Languages spoken at home (other than English)
5

Top languages other than English

Share of residents who speak a language other than English at home (2021 Census).

  • Afrikaans4 · 23.5%
  • Cantonese4 · 23.5%
  • Japanese3 · 17.6%
  • Punjabi3 · 17.6%
  • Samoan3 · 17.6%

Religion

44.5%Most common religion · Christianity

Christianity is the most common response at 44.5%, while 42.6% reported no religion.

MeasureSuburbState
No religion42.6%40.7%
Christianity44.5%45.7%
Other / not stated13%13.6%
Christian denominations
DenominationSuburbState
Catholic22.6%18.6%
Anglican9.7%11.3%
Christian (not further defined)4%3.1%
Presbyterian and Reformed2%2.1%
Uniting Church2%3.6%

2021 Census — languages spoken at home, birthplace, Indigenous status, and religious affiliation (usual residence). Religion is optional on the Census form.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community Profile (including method of travel to work and educational attainment) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Offence counts are estimated for this suburb from postcode 4825, which is shared with other suburbs.

Reported offences are running higher than the same point last year.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (Jan 2026 to Sep 2026)
186
Against the person
75
Against property
50
Rate per 1,000 residents (annualised)
339.3
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 10 residents
State crime-rate percentile
97.5th (higher = more crime)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+11%

Most common offence types

  • Assault44
  • Drug Offences34
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)20
  • Good Order Offences24
  • Other Property Damage17

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Crime rate, offences against the person, year-on-year trend and recorded road crash rates

Data sources & freshness

  • QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Sep 2026; Jan 2026 to Sep 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

Family & Lifestyle

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
4
Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
907
Median ICSEA percentile
13th
Primary catchments overlapping suburb
1
Secondary catchments overlapping suburb
1
School list
  • Happy Valley State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 927 · 17th percentile · LBOTE 17% · 387 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
  • St Joseph's Catholic SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1010 · 52th percentile · LBOTE 27% · 313 students · Top SEA quarter 20% · 0.4 km awayView on My School →
  • Healy State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 887 · 8th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 217 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
  • Spinifex State College - Mount Isa Education and Training PrecinctSecondary · Government · ICSEA 866 · 6th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 926 students · Top SEA quarter 3% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
School catchments
  • Happy Valley SSGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundaryprimary_catchment
  • Spinifex State College - Mount Isa - Junior CampusGovernment school catchment overlapping this suburb boundarysecondary_catchment

Government school intake zones that overlap this suburb boundary. Living in a catchment does not guarantee enrolment; check the education authority.

Contributes to desirability score · Education (14%)

Median school ICSEA first, then school and catchment counts

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

2 mapped amenities

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • Limited walkable amenities nearby
Walkability proxy
0/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
1.36
Community(1)
  • Happy Valley State SchoolSchool
Sport & outdoors(1)
  • Selwyn ParkPark

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually. Campgrounds, beaches, wineries and local trails are included when they sit inside the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport per 1,000 residents (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

1 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Selwyn ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Green cover of suburb area
0.6%
Woodland / forest cover
0%
Parks & woodland features (OSM)
1
Parks (OSM)
1
Typical summer maximum
36°C

Green cover is the share of this suburb's boundary overlapping OpenStreetMap parks, woodland and forest polygons — not a satellite tree-canopy product. Summer maximum is the WorldClim / Open-Meteo seasonal normal already collected for Weather.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (12%)

Tree canopy first, then green-cover area and parks per 1,000

Data sources & freshness

  • OpenStreetMap green cover and tree canopy — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated · Park/woodland polygons intersected with suburb boundaries

Health access

Nearest hospital
Mount Isa Base Hospital (2.0 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
GP clinics in suburb
0

GP clinic counts from OpenStreetMap. Bulk-billing figures only include clinics tagged in OSM (sparse and unofficial — not a Medicare list).

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (12%)

Hospitals, GPs and aged care

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
21
Participants per 1,000 residents
28.6

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
36° / 24°
Rainfall
294 mm · ~37 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
31° / 18°
Rainfall
120 mm · ~15 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
25° / 10°
Rainfall
16 mm · ~2 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
34° / 19°
Rainfall
58 mm · ~7 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (12%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
No overlay at centroid
Flood / inundation overlay
No mapped inundation on suburb boundary

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping. Flood cover uses floodplain overlay polygons against the suburb boundary where published.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (22%)

Bushfire and flood hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Bushfire and flood planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Kennedy
Member of Parliament
Bob KATTER (Katter's Australian Party (KAP))
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
123,696
Turnout (2025)
83.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+0.8 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 59.3%Labor 40.7%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 107.9 km away).

Coalition 49.0%Labor 51.0%

10.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +4.3 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • Happy ValleyLabor 51.0% · Coalition 49.0% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
  • HealyLabor 51.0% · Coalition 49.0% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • Mount IsaLabor 52.1% · Coalition 47.9% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
  • KalkadoonLabor 60.1% · Coalition 39.9% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
  • Soldiers HillLabor 46.9% · Coalition 53.1% TPP (2025)4.5 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
5/10
IRSD decile (2021)
5/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (12%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD and IRSD deciles)

Data sources & freshness

More in Mount Isa Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.